The Minnewaska Area boys basketball team came within a 3-pointer of picking up its first win of the season, Thursday, Dec. 21 during a home game against BBE.

The Lakers fell to the visiting Jaguars by a 68-66 score after trailing by five (38-33) at halftime.

The 66 points is a season high for the Lakers, who fell to 0-6 overall so far during the early part of the schedule.

“It was a great environment for a high school basketball game tonight and both teams competed their tails off,” first-year head coach Zach Traphagen said.  “Give credit to BBE for making a few more plays than us in the end.  I’m proud of the effort from our guys.” 

Minnewaska Area was set to close out the 2023 portion of its schedule at the Howard Lake-WW Holiday Tourney, Thursday and Friday, Dec. 28-29.  Results of the tourney will be highlighted next week.

The Lakers are set to commence with the 2024 part of their schedule, Friday, Jan. 5 during a girls and boys basketball doubleheader that night at home against West Central Area followed by a game at Pipestone Area, Saturday, Jan. 6.

BBE 68, Minnewaska 66

The Lakers trailed 38-33 at halftime before eventually losing 68-66 to Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, Thursday, Dec. 21 during a home game in the Minnewaska Area High School gym.

Kaden DeRoo and Luke Dingmann combined for 36 points to lead the Jaguars, while Marc Gruber, Jack Majerus and Alex Panitzke each scored in double figures to lead the Lakers.

Gruber was 4-of-8 on three-pointers to lead the Lakers in scoring with 18 points, while Majerus had 12 points, two rebounds and two assists, and Panitzke had 11 points, five boards and a team-high six assists.

The Lakers shot 45 percent overall from the field (27-for-60), but were only 8-of-29 from long range.

Tenzin Dahl chipped in with eight points, a team-high eight rebounds and two steals for the Lakers, while Zach Palmer had five points and five assists, Connor Frey had five points, three assists and two steals, Dylan Alexander had four points and seven boards, and Luke Danielson had three points and two assists.

Coach Traphagen was pleased with his team’s effort and knows that it might take some time for the Lakers to “learn” to pull out the close wins.

“We have to learn how to execute finishing off each half of play. That was ultimately the difference in the game,” coach Traphagen said.  “We will have a few days off to celebrate the Holidays and get back to work again this week.” 

Other boys notes

•  Members of the 2023-24 Minnewaska Area boys basketball varsity roster are seniors Austin Ballhagen, Alex Panitzke, Ryland Martin, Dylan Alexander and Jack Majerus; juniors Zach Palmer, Levi Johnson, Jacob Mrnak, Zachary Gugisberg, Tenzin Dahl, Ian Mills, Carter Meyer, Kaiden Harvey, Connor Frey, Owen Meulebroeck and Chase Wacker; and sophomores Marc Gruber and Luke Danielson.

•  Sauk Centre won last year’s WCC title at 12-2, followed by WCA (10-4).

BBE 68, at Minnewaska 66

BBE 38 30 — 68

Waska (0-6) 33 33 — 66

WASKA stats:  27-60 FG (8-29 3pt); 3-5 FT; 23 assists; 2 blocks; 28 rebounds; 9 steals; 23 fouls; 12 turnovers  . . . Scoring:  Marc Gruber 18, Jack Majerus 12, Alex Panitzke 11, Tenzin Dahl 8, Zach Palmer 5, Connor Frey 5, Dylan Alexander 4, Luke Danielson 3 . . . Rebounding:  Dahl 8, Alexander 7, Panitzke 5, Palmer 2, Gruber 2, Majerus 2 . . . Assists:  Panitzke 6, Palmer 5, Frey 3, Majerus 2, Danielson 2, Levi Johnson 2 . . . Steals:  Dahl 2, Frey 2

BBE stats:   Scoring:  Kaden DeRoo 20, Luke Dingmann 16, Josh Walstrom 7. . . Rebounding:  Dingmann 7, Jordan Herickhoff 6 . . . Other stats not available

Check out more photos in our photo gallery!